Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway: Xinhua

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (left) speaks with PM Lee Hsien Loong during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Sept 19, 2017.
PHOTO: AFP

BEIJING - China hopes that Singapore will support Chinese enterprises that wish to participate in the Singapore-Malaysia high-speed railway project, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday (Sept 19), according to state news agency Xinhua.

"China has cutting-edge, safe and reliable, cost-effective high-speed railway technology," Premier Li said during his talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Xinhua reported. PM Lee is on an official visit to China from Sept 19 to 21.

Singapore and Malaysia are building the 350km high-speed rail linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Targeted to be operational by end-2026, the railway line will cut travel time between the two cities to 90 minutes.

During his meeting with Mr Li, Mr Lee said that Singapore welcomes Chinese businesses to the project.

In an interview with Xinhuanet, Xinhua's official website, last Saturday, Mr Lee said: "We hope to receive China's proposals."

"I think China's bid will be a high quality one," he added, noting that the joint railway project is "very significant" for Singapore and Malaysia.

He said China has advanced technology and rich experience in high speed railway construction and operation, boasting a domestic network of tens of thousands kilometers in length.

The Singaporean prime minister praised China's high speed railway service for providing passengers with convenience and comfort.

"Very convenient, smooth and comfortable," Mr Lee recalled his previous experiences of taking high speed trains in China.

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